Refrigeration



D.C.GERBER REFRIGERATION May 29, 19457 2,377,000.

2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 20, 1942 yNvENToR a/e erb er ATTORN EYS May29, 1945. D. c. csr-:REER 2,377,000

REFRIGERATION Filed March 20, 1942 2 Shee'ucs-Sheet 2 v2 ma. .I @E mimuvd 9 r n l l .lNvEfn-OR ale C. Gerber vEw M 'ATTORNEYS Patented May L29,i945 i unirse STATES PATENT OFFICE.

REFaIGEnATIoN Dale C. Gerber, North Canton, Ohio, assignor to 'TheHoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application March '20, 1942, SerialNo. 435,497

(cl. isz-119.5)-

11 Claims.

This invention relates to the art of refrigeration and more particularlyto a novel three-fluid absorption refrigerating mechanism and to a novelarrangement for assembling a three-huid absorption refrigeratingmechanism with a domestic refrigerator cabinet structure.

Heretofore, the common practice of the art has been to provide cabinetsfor domestic refrigerating machines of the three-fluid type whichinclude vertically extending air ues along the rear Wall of the cabinetstructure. Such fues accommodate a heavy, bulky frame structure andhouse an air-cooled condenser. That part of the refrigerating mechanismwhich is not supported in the air ilue is mounted in a mechanismcompartment located beneath the food storage compartment. Certain aircooled elements are also positioned in the mechanism compartment and thewhole apparatus is supported and held together by means of a heavy steelframework. It is also common practice to prot-'ide a verticallyextending gas heat exchanger which is embedded in the insulation oftherear wall of the cabinet structure. In prior machines an opening isprovided in the rear wall of the cabinet structure through which thecooling unit is` inserted into the refrigerating compartment. A suitablepanelis provided to encase the conduits passing to the evaporatorstructure and to :lose the opening provided in the cabinet thereor. y v

The rear flue characteristic of previous constructions is a source ofgreat diiculty to the designer and manufacturer because such ues must beof considerable depth in order to house the condenser, framework andother mechanism which is normally placed therein. This construclil butsmall volume in the cabinet structure and to provide a completelrefrigerating machine which utilizes the inherently great mechanicalstrength of certain of the parts of the apparatus to support the variousparts of the apparatus in their proper relative positions without aidfrom auxiliaryframe elements.

It is a further object of the invention to pro; vide an absorptionrefrigerating machine of the three-fluid type so constructed aridarranged that the condenser may be placed in the relatively coolmachinery compartment which is located below the refrigerated chamber.

tion adds considerable depth to the cabinet structure and renders itvery difllcultto design a satisfactory refrigerator cabinet within thestandarddepth limitations imposed upon kitchen appliances. It is alsocharacteristic of prior constructions that the condenser is cooled byair previously heated by passage-across the absorberand rectifier.

In previous constructions it has been generally thought to be necessaryto place the condenser at an elevation with respect tothe evaporatorLlsuch that liquid refriger nt could lflow, by g'ravity from thecondenser in o the evaporator.

In assembling prior constructions the refrigerating mechanism and itsframework has been made up into a unit together with the closure ele-'\ments for the rear window opening of the cabinet.' After this assemblyis made the refrigerat- It is a further object of the invention toprovide an absorption refrigerating machine in which the condenser andabsorber are cooled by independent streams of previously unheatedcooling air. I

'It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel means forconveying liquid refrigerant from the condenser to the evaporator.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction in whichthe lean gas en route to the evaporator is placed in heat exchangerelationship with rich gas discharging from the evaporator and withliquidrefrigerant flowing to the evaporator.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a refrigeratorincluding a gas heat exchanger construction which serves toexchange heatbetween the inert gas passing to and from the evaporator, to provide ameans 'for conveying liquid refrigerant from the condenser to theevaporator, to provide a means for cooling liquid refrigerant en routeto the evaporator and to form a support for the' evaporator within thecabinet structure.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an absorptionrefrigerating machine construction in which the liquid refrigerant enroute from the condenser to the evaporator is pre- COOled by beingpassed in heat exchange relationship with the rich gas discharged fromthe evaporator and is further pre-cooled by an evaporative process.

It is a further object of the'present invention to provide a three-fluidabsorption machine in which certain parts thereof are encased in otherparts of the apparatus.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent asthefdescription proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1^ is a side elevational view partly insection illustrating the invention assembled with a cabinet, and

Figure 2 is a sectional view of a portion of the apparatus drawn upon anenlarged scale.

Figure 3 is a side elevational,view, partly in section, illustrating amodified "form of the refrigerating apparatus designed and intended tobe positioned in a cabinet such as that illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale of the details of amodified form of pumping mechanism to be used in the apparatus of Figure 3.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and first to Figure 1 thereof,there is illustrated a three-huid absorption refrigerating apparatuscomprising a boiler B, an analyzer D, an aircooled rectifier R, atubular air-cooled condenser C, an evaporator E, a gas heat exchangerstructure G, a tubular air-cooled absorber A, a s'olution reservoir S, aliquid heat exchanger L, a circulating fan or gas pump F which is drivenby an electricalmotor M. The above described refrigerating elements willbe connected by suitable conduits to form a plurality of fluid circuitsto be described hereinafter.

The above described system will be charged with a suitable refrigerant,such as ammonia, an absorbent therefor, such as water, and a pressureequalizing medium which is inert with respect to the refrigerant andabsorbent, preferably a dense gas such as nitrogen. 1

A suitable heater, not shown, such as a gas or liquid fuel burner willbe' provided for applying heat to the boiler. The operation of theboiler heater and the motor M will be controlled by a suitable controlmechanism, not shown, preferably of the type disclosed in U. S. PatentNo. 2,228,343 to Curtis C. Coons, dated January 14, 1941.

The application of heat to the boiler B causes evolution of refrigerantvapor from the strong solution normally therein contained. The vapor soproduced passes upwardly through the `analyzer D in contact with strongsolution returning to the boiler. l

veyed from the analyzer to the rectifier by way The resulting vapor isthen conof conduit l2 and from the rectifier to the upper portion of thecondenser C by way of the conduit i3. i

The weak solution formed in the boiler by the generation of :refrigerantvapor is conducted therefrom to the solution reservoir S by way ofnormally therein maintained The solution reservoir S is vented to thesuction conduit 22 of the l the absorber flows downwardly therethroughby gravity in conterilow relationship with a rich mixture of pressureequalizing medium and refrigerant vapor which is supplied to the lowerportion of the absorber in a manner to be described. The solutionabsorbs refrigerant vapor from the mixture and the resulting heat ofabsorption is rejected to cooling air flowing over the exterior walls ofthe absorber conduit and the air cooling ns mounted thereon. The strongsolution formed in the absorber is conveyed therefrom to the upperportion of the analyzer by way of a conduit 25, liquid heat exchanger L,and conduit 26, thus completing the absorbing solution circuit.

The lean inert gas formed in the absorber is conveyed therefrom to theinlet of the fan F by the conduit 22. After being placed under pressurein the fan F the gas is conveyed therefrom to the lower portion of theevaporator E by means of the conduit i9, the outer path '3G of the gasheat exchanger G and the evaporator gas supply conduit 3i.

Liquid refrigerant is supplied from the condenser to the evaporatorliquid supply conduit 32 in a manner to be described hereinafter. Theconduit 32 is U-shaped to form a gas sealing liquid trap.

The evaporator may be of any desired type. However, itis preferably ofthe type in which the inert gas and liquid refrigerant are supplied tothe bottom of the evaporator and in which the liquid refrigerant iscirculated upwardly through the evaporator as it is evaporating by thefrictional dragging action of a relatively high velocity stream of inertgas.

After traversing the evaporator the rich inert gas is conveyed therefromto the bottom portion of the absorber by way of conduit 33, the innergas path 34 on the gas heat exchanger and the gas conducting conduit 35.The inert gas refrigerant vapor mixture then hows upwardly (ill theconduit I5. the liquid heat exchanger L and the conduit i6 whichincludes a looped finned portion, as shown, for the purpose ofpre-cooling the solution. The solution is then conveyed from thereservoir to the upper portion of the absorber A by means 0f the gaslift conduit I8 to which pumping gas is supplied from the dischargeconduit i9 of the circulating fan F-by means of a diversion conduit 20which'introduces the gas into the conduit I8 below the liquid levelthrough the absorber in contact with the absorb- Iing solution in themanner heretofore described.

The gas heat exchanger construction also houses a mechanism forconveying liquid refrigerant from the condenser to the evaporator. As isclearly shown in Figure '2 the gas heat exchanger is composed of threeconcentric cylinders d0, 4l and 42. The outer space 30 between thecylinders 40 and 4I is the lean gas path of the heat exchanger, the nextspace 34 between the walls 4i and 42 is the rich gas space of the heatexchanger and the inner space 43 houses the condensate elevatingmechanism. The conduits i9 and 3l open through the wall 40 into thespace 3Q. The conduits 33 and 35 open through the end plate 44 and thewall 4| into the rich gas space 313. End plates 45 and 46 serve to sealthe space 63.

The condensate which is formed in the condenser iiows from the bottomportion thereof into a gas lift elevating pipe which discharges into achamber 5l formed in the bottom portion of the compartment 43 of theheat exchanger G by a light intermediate partition 52.` Pumping gas isintroduced into the conduit 50 by means discharge the pumping gas intothe rich, gas chamber 34 of the heat exchanger. The liquid refrigerantelevated through pipe 50 collects in the lower portion of the chamber Iand is elevated into the next higher chamber in the heat kseries of gaslift pumps extending upwardly through the gas heat exchanger G to thepoint at which the pump 5E discharges intoa chamber 59 which is drainedbythe evaporator supply conduit 32 and is vented through an opening 6Uto therich gas portion of the g'as heat exchanger.

In each case pumping gas lis introduced into the pumping conduit belowthe liquid level normally main tained therein to provide an adequatedepth of immersion for operation of the pump.

Therefore it will be seen that the liquid refrigerant is elevated fromthe bottom portion of the condenser into the chamber 59 through the gasllift elevating pump 5U, the gas lift elevating pump 56, and a seriesof'intermediate but identical gas lift elevating devices indicatedgenerally at 65 in the broken portion of the gas heat exchanger andterminating in the gas lift pump 58 which discharges into the chamber59.

A is1 the liquid refrigerant is elevated in steps by a In order tofacilitate operation of the gas lift pump and to purge the condenser ofnon-condensible material whichmay find its way thereinto a vent conduit6I is provided to connect between the lower portion of the condenser butabove the level of liquid collecting therein for operation of the gaslift pump 50 and the gas conduit which is subjected substantially to thesuction pressure of the circulating fan F.

As may readily be seen in Figure l the apparatus is assembled with acabinet. A lower base assembly is provided which comprises a baseelement 10 which rests upon the floor and which is of open constructionto allow free access of cooling air into the space thereabove. A channeland angle iron box frame indicated generally at 7| and is provided forsupporting the refrigerating mechanism.

The boiler,V analyzer; liquid heat exchanger asi' sembly is encased in abody of insulating material 12 and rests upon the frame 1I at the rearportion thereof. the front, upper portion of the space defined by theframe and extends downwardly and rearwar'dly therein. The condenser ispositioned rearwardly of the absorber and is sloped at a sharper angle.By this construction cooling air which flows into the chamber 13 definedby the box frame 'H has free access to the absorber and condenser andeach of these elements is cooled by air which has not previously passedover an air cooled element except lfor the slight amount of heat whichwill be imparted to some of the air by the absorption solutionprecooler. The air stream travels in a generally vertical path until thesame has passed across the condenser and the absorber after which thestream flows to the rear across the rectifier and discharges at the rearof theI box frame in a manner to be described l more fully hereinafter.y Due to the fact that refrigerating systems of this type must withstandhigh static pressures,

The absorber is positioned in f the refrigerating mechanisms, themselvesare all rigidly welded together and are all constructed of heavymaterial whereby the same inherently' possess great mechanical strength.To lsupport the refrigeratng mechanism on the box frame, variousportions of the apparatus are secured to adjacent parts of the box frameby strap irons, blting, welding, brazing and the like in order that therefrigerating mechanism and the box frame will form a rigid whole. Atypical connection is shown at 14. As a result of this construction thebox frame encases the boiler, analyzer, liquid heat exchanger,rectifier, absorber, condenser, solution reservoir, circulating fan anddrive motor and the gas heat exchanger evaporator structure projectsupwardly therefrom.

The rigidity of the various gas and liquid conduits and theirconnections tothe box frame form a structure possessing such inherentmechanical strength that the evaporator and gas heat exchanger requireno other support than that required by their connections to the boxframe and to the refrigerating mechanism so that the evaporator issuspended from the gas heat exchanger which is in turn supported by thelower box frame and refrigerating mechanism. l

The box frame also supports an insulated panel 'F6 which is providedwith beveled edges as indicated at Vl and forms the bottom closure ofthe cabinet structure.

The chamber 13 is provided with a suitable closure element i8 at thefront thereof which will be suitably decorated to conform to theexterior nish of the cabinet structure.

The entire refrigerating mechanism, the base member 10, the box frame',closure plates 78 and insulated bottom wall structure 16 of the cabinetform a complete operative unit. The base element and box frame form thesole supporting meansand framework for this unit other than the inherentrigidity and mechanical strength of the refrigerating mechanism itself.

The gas heat exchanger extends vertically from the chamber 13 throughthe panel 'I6 and forms the sole supporting means for the evaporator.

A cabinet structure indicated generally at comprises insulated top, rearand side and front vertical walls and an insulated closure 8l which isadapted to provide access to the interior 82 of f the cabinetV by meansof a suitable opening formed in the insulated front wall of thecompartment. The lower edges of the vertical walls .of the cabinet 80are beveled as is indicated at 84 in order' that the same may engage thebeveled edges 'll of the panel 16, thus forming sealed joints at thatpoint. If desiredy a suitable 'gasket of rubber or like material may beprovided in a recess 83in the panel 76 in order to insure that thisjoint shall be absolutely air` on top of the evaporator structure forrefrigerating meats and the like.

In order to dispose of waste products of combustion from the boilerheater a waste products' of combustion flue 88 is provided which extendsfrom the outlet of the boiler flue 89 vertically along'the rear wall ofthe base structure and also l along 4the rear wall of the cabinet 80 toa point adjacent the top thereof in order to distribute waste-productsof combustion above the cabinet level. This flue will preferably have avery small depth in a direction corresponding to the direction of thedepth of the cabinet though it may be wide as compared with its depth.Preferably the boiler will be located in one corner of the chamber 13 soas to remove the same from. a path of cooling air flowing over the aircooled el'ements of the apparatus which will bring the element 88adjacent one corner of the apparatus.

In assembling the above construction the re` frigerating mechanism, baseelements 10, box frame I|I, panel 'i6 are assembled as a complete unitat which time the same may be tested. After proof of satisfactoryoperation by tests, the cabinet mechanism 80 i5 simply lowered over theaforesaid assembly until the beveled edges 84 and engage after which,the cabinet elements 80 will rest directly upon the elements 16 and uponthe box frame 1|. If desired, suitable bolts may be provided yto boltthe vertical panels of the cabinet 80 to the top elements of the boxframe,

The above described construction is characterized by the total absenceof a vertical air flue structure projecting rearwardly of the cabinet.All air cooled portions of the apparatus are positioned beneath the foodstorage compartment of the refrigerator and the only element projectingrearwardly of the normal rear wall thereof is the very shallow productsof combustion flue conduit 80.

The nue conduit 08 is so shallow that there is very little likelihoodthat the same will ever be pushed against the wall as the chair board atthe base of the wall will space the rear of the refrigerator far enoughfrom the wall properto provide ample clearance for the element 88 and toprovide a space from which cooling air heated by passage over theabsorber, condenser, rectifier and solution pre-cooler and the variousconduits in the chamber |3 may freely pass into the room.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4 there is disclosed a modified form ofthe invention. The

major elements of this form of the invention arel identical with thosedescribed above in detail in connection with Figures 1 and 2, henceparts of the apparatus illustrated/in Figures 3 and 4 cor- `Irespondingto parts of the apparatus described above in connection with Figures 1and 2 are given the same reference characters primed.

L This form of th invention is substantially idenf tical to the form ofthe invention described above in connection with Figures 1 and 2' exceptwith respect to the location of the circulating unit for the inert gasand thelocation and arrangement of the means provided to supply theliquid refrigerant to the evaporator.

Referring now to Figure 3, the condenser C' is connected to supplyliquid refrigerant to a pump reservoir through a conduit |0I. The upperportion of the pump reservoir is vented by means of a conduit |02 to therich gas conduit 35 which is connected to the absorber and is under alow static pressure as the absorber -is connected to the suction inletof the circulating fan |03 through the conduit 22 (see Figure 4) The gascirculating fan |03 is encased within a housing |05 which is providedwith a dividing partition |00 separating the same into a chamber |01 forthe fan and a, chamber. |03 which houses a drive mechanism for a liquidrefrigerant pumping device. The shaft ||0 of the motor M' carries thefan |03 and is extended into the chamber |08 through the suction eye ofthe fan in the partition |06. The end of the shaft ||0 in chamber |08carries a cam H2 which contacts the upper end of a cam follower shaftI3. The cam follower shaft I3 and its extended reduced por- 'tion ||4extends through a bearing sleeve H5 which is `hermetically sealed to thehousing |05 and to the reservoir |00. The upper portion of the sleeveIIE is enlarged as illustrated to house a spring I I'l which encompassesthe upper portion of the reduced section ||4 of the'r follower and bearsat its upper end against the shoulder I I8 formed at the junction pointof the portions of the follower of different diameter. The spring servesto maintain the follower I|3 in contact with the cam M2.

The sleeve I|5 extends through the reservoir |00 and is in opencommunication with conduit |20. The portion of the sleeve I|5 Within thereservoir |00 is provided at its lower portion with diametricallyopposed cut-outs |2|, The reduced o portion of the follower I I4opposite the cut-outs |2| is provided with a transverse bore |22 whichis in communication with an axial bore |23 extending to the-lower end ofthe reduced portion ||i of the follower. A small perforated cage |23 issecurely attached to the lower end of the follower I |4 and a suitableball check |25 is mounted in the cage |24 in position to ,seal the bore|23 when the ball is in Contact with the end of fol- \lower i I3.

The conduit |20 communicates with a ball check housing |28 which isprovided with a ball checkl mechanism` |29 as illustrated. The upper endof the housing |28 is in communication with a liquid refrigerant conduit|30. I

The conduit |30 extends upwardly through the inner passage |32 of a gasheat exchanger |33. `The inner passage of the gas heat exchanger isdei-ined by the inner lshell |32 which in turn passes through the outerpassage of the gas heat exchanger defined by the uter shell |30.

The inner shell of the gas heat exchanger |32 communicates at its upperend withrthe rich gas discharge conduit 33' of the evaporator E' and atits lower end with the conduit 33 which conveys the rich gas to thelower end of the absorber A'. The pipe |30 discharges at its upper endinto a chamber |36 defined in the upper portion of the shell |32 by apartition |37. The liquid refrigerant discharged from the pipe |30 intothe chamber |36 is conveyed therefrom to the evaporator by the conduit32.

described. As before, the various parts of the refrigerating mechanismper se are of sufficient strength to provide a support for the gas heatexchanger |33 and for the evaporator and its associated conduits. Figure3 illustrates the arrangement of the parts for association with acabinet structure like that shown in Figure 1.

In the operation of this form of the invention liquid refrigerant flowsfrom the condenser into the reservoir |00. The motor M' imparts areciprocatory movement to the cam follower IIS-lili against the lbias ofthe spring ill through the action of the shaft ||0 and cam IIZ. As thelower end of the follower H13 reciprocates liquid is pumped therefrominto the conduit |30 in the following nanner: On the downstroke of 'thefollower H4 the ball check |25 is forced ber |28 and prevents liquidfrom passing Y:from chamber |28 into conduit |20. Also on the upstrokethe ball check |25 drops into the cage |245 in the position shown inFigure 4 and liquid refrigerant flows through the bore |22 and bore |23into the conduit |20. In this manner liquid refrigerant is pumped fromthe reservoir upwork manner after the assembly of the apparatus.

It is particularly characteristic of the present invention that all heatrejecting portions of the apparatus are enclosed in the lower part ofthe cabinet beneaththe food storage compartment wardly into the chamber|36 from which it ows through the U-shaped trap 32 into the bottomportion of the evaporator E.

In this form of the invention like that described in Figures 1 and 2 asingle motor element M operates to circulate the inert gas, to circulatey is appreciably pre-cooled before being supplied to the evaporator. l

The present invention provides very efficient I cooling as both theabsorber and condenser are individually cooled by airtaken from adjacentthe floor of the room where the coolest available air is to be found.Due to the fact that the heat is applied to the air at avery low pointin the cabinet structure the chimney effect is large and the velocity ofcooling `air flow through the mechanism compartment is high as comparedwith previous structures.

In the constructions herein disclosedl the gas heat 'exchanger serves asa supporting element for the evaporator and a part of the framework ofthe refrigerating mechanism per se. This element also functions as atriple heat exchanger and pre-cooler element. The rich inert gasdischarging from the evaporator, 'the lean inert gas discharging fromthe absorber and the condensate en route from the condenser to theevaporator are all brought into heat exchange relationship in a tripleheat exchanger structure and the condensate is brought substantially tothe temperature of the evaporator before being supplied thereto becauseof the fact that the same is cooled by the cold, rich inert'gasdischarging from the evaporator and passing through the passageway whichSurrounds the condensate elevating mechanism.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures l and 2, thecondensate is further cooled by evaporation which may occur in thevvarious pump chambers housed Within the space 43 in which thecondensate is brought intocontact with a relatively small amount ofinert gas.

The pre-cooling thus affects the design, construction and operation ofthe evaporator and promotes uniformity of the operation in all parts ofthe evaporator which serves to promote the efficiency of the apparatusand to insure that material placed therein will be uniformlyrefrigerated.

By reason of the construction herein disclosed the cabinet proper isrelieved of all stress loads and mechanical parts and need not bedesigned to receive any mechanical parts other than simply to enclosethe evaporator and the vertically extending gas heat exchanger and neednot be provided with any openings to be filled in a patchand lyingwithin the projected area of the food storage compartment whereby thedepth of the cabinet structure as a whole with its associatedrefrigerating mechanism need not exceed that required for the foodstorage compartment and its insulating walls. Also by placing all heatrejecting portions of the apparatus in the very lowest portion of thecabinet the rejection of heat is facilitated and all the heat rejectingelements are supplied with cold air taken from adjacent the floor of theroom housing the refrigerating mechanism and the maximum chimney effectis available for causing air to traverse these elements and to carry theheat away therefrom.

While the invention has been illustrated and described herein inconsiderable detail, it is not to be limited thereto but various changesmay be made in the construction, arrangement, proportion of partswithout departing from'the spirit of the invention or the scope of theappended claims,

, I claim:

1. An absorption refrigerating assembly comprising an open base andframe structure; an absorber, a generator and a condenser supported byand within said frame structure; an evaporator positioned at anelevation above said frame structure,4 a vertically extending gas heatexchanger connected to provide for flow of a gas between said evaporatorand said absorber and forming the sole supporting means for saidevaporator, means connecting said absorber and said generator forcirculation of absorption solution therebetween, and means forconducting refrigerant vapor produced in said generator to saidcondenser and for lifting refrigerant liquid from said condenser to saidevaporator.

2. In a refrigerator, a cabinet structure including an insulatedrefrigerating chamber and an air cooled mechanism chamber underlyingsaid refrigerating chamber; a refrigerating apparatus associated withsaid cabinet structure comprising an evaporator in said refrigeratingchamber, an air cooled condenser and an air cooled absorber in saidmechanism chamber, a generator in said mechanism chamber, a verticallyextending gas heat exchanger extending from said mechanism chamber intosaid refrigerating chamber, means connecting said gas heat exchanger tosaidevaporatorfor conveying inert gas to and from said evaporator, meansconnecting said gas heat exchanger to said absorber for conveying inertgas to and from said absorber, means, connecting said generator andparatus associated with said cabinet structure comprising an evaporatorin said refrigerating chamber, an air cooled condenser and an air cooledabsorber in said mechanism-chamber, a generator and a power operated gascirculator in said mechanism chamber, a gas heat exchanger extendingfrom said mechanism chamber into said refrigerating chamber, means con-fnecting said gas heat exchanger to said evaporator for conveying inertgas to and from said evaporator, means including said gas circulatorconnecting said gas heat exchanger to said absorber for conveying inertgas to and from said absorber, means connecting said generator and saidabsorber for circulation of absorption solution therebetween, means forconveying refrigerant vapor from said generator to said condenser, gasoperated means for conducting refrigerant liquid from said condenser tosaid evaporator, means for supplying gas to said gas operated means,said refrigerant liquid conveying means extending from said condenser tothe level of said evaporator through said gas heat exchanger, and framemeans in said mechanism chamber rigidly secured to said refrigeratingapparatus, said refrigerating apparatus and said frame means being soconstructed and arranged that the same forms a rigid whole lyingpartially within and partially beneath said refrigerating chamber.

4. Absorption refrigerating apparatus comprising an absorber, agenerator, means connecting said absorber and said generator forcirculation of absorption solution therebetween, a condenser connectedto receive refrigerant vapor from said generator, an evaporatorpositioned at an elevation above said condenser, and said absorber, agas heat exchanger construction having a central space surrounded by apair of concentric gas flow passageways, means connecting saidevaporator and said absorber for circulation of inert gas therebetweenincluding said pair of concentric gas flow passageways and pumpinglmeans including means extending through said central space of said gasheat exchanger for elevating refrigerant liquid from said condenser tosaid evaporator.

5. Absorption refrigerating apparatus comprising an absorber, agenerator, means connecting said absorber and said generator forcirculation of absorption solution therebetween, a condenser connectedto receive refrigerant vapor from said generator, an evaporatorpositioned at an elevation above said condenser and said absorber, a gasheat exchanger having a central passageway surrounded by a pair of gasconducting passaggvays, means connecting said evaporatorz1i'l`said`absorber..forY circulation of inert gas therebetweenincluding a gas pump arranged to place said inert gas under pressure andsaid gas conducting passageways of said gas heat exchanger, a pluralityof serially connected gas lift pumps extending through said centralpassageway for conveying refrigerant liquid from said condenser to saidevaporator, means for supplying pumping gas placed under pressurelzontal dimension in excess of the horizontal dimensions ofsaidinsulated refrigerating compartment; an air cooled refrigeratingmechanism rator positioned within said refrigerating compartment, andair cooled heat rejecting parts in said mechanism compartment inert gasconveying means for said evaporator extending from said refrigeratingcompartment to said mechanism compartment and forming the solesubjecting the said liquefied refrigerant to saidl by said gas pump tosaid gas lift pumps, and

means for admitting the used pumping gas from supporting means for saidevaporator, and means for conveying refrigerant liquid from apparatus insaid mechanism compartment to said'evaporator and extending through saidinert gas conveying means, and a uidcirculator in said mechanismcompartment arranged to produce flow of inert gas and refrigerant liquidthrough said inert gas conveying means.

7. In a refrigerator assembly; a base structure constructed to allowflow of cooling air therethrough, an insulated panel forming the topWall of said base structure; a three-fluid air cooled absorptionrefrigerating apparatus of the absorption type utilizing a power drivendevice for placing an inert gas under pressure associated with andsupported on said base structure, said refrigerating apparatus beingpositioned within said base structure with the exception of anevaporator positioned above said insulated panel, a heat exchangerstructure extending from the interior of said base structure to saidevapora-tor and arranged to convey inert gas to and from saidevaporator, said heat exchanger structure serving as the sole supportingmeans for said evaporator, a plurality of serially connected gas liftpumps extending through said heat exchanger structure and arranged toelevate refrigerant liquid from the level of said base structure to saidevaporator, and means for conducting gas placed under pressure by saidpower driven device to said gas lift pumps for operat ing the same.

8. That improvement in the art of absorption refrigerating systems ofthe type utilizing a refrigerant, an absorbent for Ythe refrigerant and'a gaseous medium which is inert with respect to the refrigerant and theabsorbent, which includes the steps of applying heat to a solution ofthe refrigerant in the absorbent to liberate refrigerant therefrom,liquefying the said refrigerant vapor, placing saidgaseousmedium underpressure and circulating the same between a place of evaporation and aplace of absorption,

gaseous medium under pressure to convey the' same to said place ofevaporation and to precool the liquefied refrigerant by evaporation intosaid gaseous medium and transferring heat between gaseous medium flowingfrom said placeA of evaporation, gaseous medium flowing to said place ofevaporation and liquefied refrigerant flowing to. said place ofevaporation.

9. Absorption refrigerating apparatus com prising an absorber, agenerator, means connecting said absorber and said generator forcirculation of absorption solution therebetween, a condenser connectedto receive" refrigerant vapor from said generator, an evaporatorpositioned at an elevation above said condenser and said absorber, a gasheat exchanger construction having a central space surrounded by a pairof concentric gas flow passageways, means including said concentricgasfiow passagewaya connecting said evaporator and said absorber forcirculation of inert gas therebetween, and means for elevatingrefrigerant liquid from said condenser to said evaporator includingmeans extending through said centralspace o! said gas heat exchanger.

l0. In a refrigerator; a cabinet structure coms prising an insulatedrefrigerating chamber and a mechanism chamber wholly underlying saidrefrigerating chamber. said mechanism chamber heilig open at the rear ofsaid cabinet structure for egress of cooling air and at the bottomthereof for entrance of cooling air; an absorption refrigeratingmechanism including a condenser,

a generator, an absorber andan evaporator;

means connecting said condenser, generator. absorber andevaporator incircuit; means supporting said generator, absorber and condenser in saidmechanism chamber and said evaporator in said reirigerating chamber,said absorber comprising a tubular finned conduit lying in a piane.inclined slightly to the horizontal and arranged inthe forward portionof said mechafrom said generator, an evaporator positioned at anelevation' above said condenser and said absorber, a gas heat exchangerconstruction having a central space surrounded by a pair of concentricgas flow passageways, means connecting said evaporator and said absorberfor circulation of'inert gas therebetween including said pair ofgas flowpassageways and power operated uid propulsion means having a fluidconveying Dart extending through said central space for elevatingrefrigerant liquid from saidcondenser to said evaporator.

DALE C. GERBER.

